Process for refining chocolate masses



Feb. 16; 1937. A. BEQK 2,070,558

PROCESS FOR REFINKING CHOCOLATE MASSES Original Filed July 24, 1934 Patented F eb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES 2,010,558 I PaocEss ron aEmNING CHOCOLATE MASSES L f August Beck, Wernigerode, Germany original application July 24, 1934, lserial No. 736,794. Divided and this application April 11, 1935, Serial No. 15,879. In Germany January 2 Claims.

This application is a division of application of August Beck, Serial Number 736,794, lfiled July 24, 1934. A. i

The invention relates to a' machine, for and a process of refining chocolate masses and similar massesused inrthe manufacture of sweet-meats.

The object of the invention is to improve the refining of the'masses by the treatment with air.

One example of a machine or apparatus for carrying out the process accordingto the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which: e-

Figures 1 and 2 show the refining machine combined with a further machine, viewed from the front and from the side. 1

Figure 3 shows, on a larger scale, the inlet to the additional machine for the chocolate mass coming out of the worm.

Figure 4 shows, on a larger scale, the form of the worm thread.

' A worm housing l contains a. rotary conveyer Worm 2. The forward end of the housing is connected to a storage tank 3 for the chocolate mass. The rear end of the Worm housing I is connected to a cone shaped casing 4, in which a conei rotates, the cone preferably having a smooth periphery. The cone 5.is connected at its larger diameter to the rear end of the worm. In certain cases, the cone can be formed integrally with the worm. The thread'proportions of, one

example of a suitable worm are shown in Figure of the threads are bevelled off on the front side 4,0l in the conveying direction, which is indicated in Figure 4 by the arrow 6.

The mass from the container 3 passes into the worm housing l, where it is seized by the worm `i.

and is conveyed .through the Worm housing and l through the, casing 4. The mass is` thereby intensively worked and is nely disintegrated by the grinding cone 5. Axial displacement of the cone alters the clearance between the cone 5- and the casing 4, and so, in the simplest manner, 50

can be increased. Also with very small clearance and, therefore, with very great resistance,

the delivery output is maintained by virtue of the smallthread depth y, even if, as desired, a sub- 55 the resistance and with it the degree of neness stantial part of the real delivery out-put is taken out by the back flow of the mass itself; not on lthe amount emerging from the end of the casing 4. Thus it has been shown that'by suitable increase of resistance, theback ow amount is caused to rise to over the half of the amount 5 delivered by the worm in the unit of time. In a particular case, the quantity delivered by the worm amounts, e. g. to 2,000 kg. in the unit of time, while from the casing 4 in the same time, only 800 kg. emerge; therefore, 1,200 kg. have 1o l flowed back in this unit of time. As above mentioned, the backv-owing portion of the mass is, owing to the bevelling of the forward edge of the crests of the threads, compelled to squeeze itself between the outer circumference of the worm threads and the worm housing. In this manner, the particles which already have become very small through the previous treatment are still further reduced in size andthe mass is, there,- fore, still further relined.V l From the casing 4,.the mass passes back into l the container 3 through a pipe 1. The treatment can be repeated as often as desired. When the desired degree of fineness is attained, the mass can be discharged from the casing 4 by opening 25 an outlet 8, which has been closed during'the.v working of the mass.

If desired, a. pipe may be connected tthe outlet 8 and this pipe may deliver the mass to another working-up machine, e. g. to a chocolate moulding machine. A

It is preferable to subject the mass' to an air treatment known'in itself and to combine the refining machine consisting of the worm, with anapparatus for the air treatment in such a manner that the-mass which comes out of the worm is not led immediately into the` storage tank 3, but is passed rst through the-apparatus for the air treatment. The mass is in this way subjected alternately to the mechanical workingand to the 40 air treatment.

In the illustrated example according to Figures 1 and 2, theV apparatus for air treatment is mounted on the storage tank 3 and the pipe 1 is connected to the`inlet of this apparatus. The apparatus for the air treatment consists in general of r`a uniformly rotating drum 9, on the circumference of which the mass is spread out in a thin layer,"and of a blower I0, which directs a stream of fresh air onto the spread out mass.

At the underside of the drum 9, a distributing duct or. trough I I is fitted in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. The direction of rotation of the drum is indicated by the arrow I2. The horizontal wall Il a of the duct fits closely to the 'of the gap I3 may be adjustable.

circumference of the drum, but a gap I3 is left between the upper edge of the vertical wall I Ib and the circumference of the drum.- The width The pipe 'l opens into the duct II.- The chocolate mass entering into the duct is carried along by the drumV which covers itself with a chocolate layer by its rotation, the thickness of the layer corresponding tothe width of the gap I3, Vand it may b e approximately 0.8 mm. to 1 mm. Spreading out of the chocolate as a thin layer is essential in order to ensure an intensive action by theA oxygen of the supply of fresh air. With a spreading out in a layer of thickness of roughly 0.8to 1 mm. a mass of 100 kg. is distributed on a surface of approximately 170 sq. m. and for this reason practically each particle of the mass is exposed to the action of the air.

1t is further essential in the air treatment that adequate extraction of the water, however, is .only

possible if fresh air is used, since air which is continuously circulated round the drum is quickly saturated with the water to be withdrawn from the chocolate, so that it can no longer take up water.

In the delivery pipe of the ventilator I0, a heat ing device Il, for example an electric heater, is tted, which heats the air to approximately 40 to 100 C. .according to requirements, so that it is hot and dry when it impinges upon the chocolate mass. The blower is so designed that it delivers an excess of air, so that the water of the chocolate is extracted rapidly and but very small traces of water remain.`

As soon as the water ,is extracted to the revquired degree, the temperature of the air can ,sumciently large amounts of oxygen are available for the generation of the aroma.

The advantages given by the special apparatus for the air treatment of the chocolate mass are independentl of the present apparatus for rening of the mass by mechanical Working. In other words, these advantages are, therefore, in-

dependent of whether theapparatus is or is not combined with aparticular refining machine of the type ldescribedand illustrated. The appadependently of the worm refining machine or in combination with another machine for refining the mass by mechanical working.

1. A process for refining chocolate masses for use in sweetmeat manufacture, in which the chocolate is refined mechanicallygan'd is spread out as a thin layer and subjected to the action of hot air the temperature of which is in the neighborhood Aof 100 C. for a sumcient time to extract the water from said masses and is then lowered to the neighborhood/of C. to generate the aroma o; said masses.

2. A process for refining chocolate masses for use in sweetmeat manufacture, in which the chocolate is refined mechanically and is spread out as a thin layer and subjected to the action of hot fresh air the temperature of which is in the neighborhood of C. for a sufficient time to extract the water from said masses and is then lowered to the neighborhood of 80 C.y to generate thearoma of said masses.

' AUGUST BECK. 

